Greta Thunberg accuses French police of excessive force against student protesters

Greta Thunberg joined the student protests in France, expressing support for their demands for better school funding and accusing French police of using excessive force against young demonstrators, as French authorities reported a decline in the number of protesters.

The Swedish activist joined protesters in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis as students across France staged another nationwide day of action, CE Report quotes MIA.

"Our future is being robbed away from us," Thunberg told reporters.

"And as we've seen here, schools are not getting investments that they need, which, I mean, it just gives a signal to young people that you are not prioritized in our society. And what are we supposed to do then, just give up?"

She said young people would not give up fighting for their future. "I'm incredibly proud of the French students," Thunberg continued.

Thunberg also accused French police of acting with extreme violence towards young protesters.

"They are supposed to be protecting young people. They are supposed to be protecting their human rights," she said.

Interior Ministry says protests declining

Although students blocked access to 214 secondary schools across France on Tuesday, and demonstrations also took place outside universities, participation in the protests continued to decline, according to preliminary figures released by the French Education Ministry around midday.

Only a small number of employees followed a call for a strike on Tuesday afternoon in the education sector, the ministry said.

Police and demonstrators clashed in some cities, as during previous protests. In Nantes, police used tear gas at the end of a rally. In Lyon, police took action against a group of black-clad rioters on the edge of a march attended by around 11,000 people. In Paris, demonstrators received applause from passers-by and buses honked at the young people.

At midday, the Interior Ministry reported 30,000 participants in protest actions at schools and 21,000 participants in the marches that had already set off by that point.

Students have been protesting for more than two weeks, demanding better funding for secondary schools, more substitute teachers and improved learning conditions.

Government under pressure to cut spending

In Paris, demonstrators wanted to march near the prime minister's office while deliberations on the upcoming budget were beginning in the National Assembly. The young people are insisting on an additional €10 billion ($11.2 billion) for education.

So far, the budget for next year provides for €1.2 billion in additional spending. In addition, the government promised at short notice to deploy more than 3,000 substitute teachers to tackle the worst class cancellations. But that is not enough for the protesters and the unions.

The government is facing demands for more money for education at an extremely inopportune moment. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu only presented an austerity budget for 2027 a few days ago, providing for major savings amounting to billions.

France's national debt has now risen to its highest level since 1946, and interest payments alone are now swallowing vast sums that could be used for other purposes. In this situation, quickly freeing up a few billion to satisfy the protesting pupils is likely to be a major challenge.

Serious rioting overshadows protests

The protests have attracted attention in France not only because of how long they have been going on, but above all because of sometimes violent rioting. There have repeatedly been reports of emergency services and teaching staff being attacked. The Education Ministry said 147 school employees have been injured since the start of the protests.

There was also outrage when the entrance hall of a secondary school in Nantes burned and a fire engine in Marseille was set on fire. Public transport was also restricted in part because of the protests.

Authorities accused young people of property damage and violence, with the damage now running into the millions. The Interior Ministry complained at one point that the situation no longer had anything to do with the legitimate expression of demands. Instead, it said, it had all the characteristics of urban unrest.

At the same time, the police response has been criticized by some as heavy-handed with allegations of police violence. Thousands of young people were arrested during the protests. Dozens of internal proceedings are now underway against officers. A 15-year-old lost his hand due to a stun grenade, and a police officer is alleged to have rammed his knee into another demonstrator's face.

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